Staff Correspondent: Tributes and condolences continued on to pour in for veteran politician and state minister for religious affairs Alhaj Advocate Sheikh Md Abdullah, who died of old age complications at the Combined Military Hospital in Dhaka last night at the age of 74. Immediately after his demise, people from all walks of life as well as different political parties, social and cultural organizations and leaders expressed their profound shock.

President M Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina expressed profound shock and sorrow at the death of Md Abdullah.

Recalling Advocate Sheikh Md Abdullah’s outstanding contribution to country’s political arena with due respect, the president, in his condolence message said that at his death, nation has lost a tested politician.

“His (Sheikh Abdullah) death is an irreparable loss to the national politics of Bangladesh,” the head of the state added.

The President prayed for eternal peace of the departed soul and convoyed his deep sympathy to the bereaved family.

In her condolence message, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina also recalled with profound respect Abdullah’s outstanding contributions to the great Liberation War and for Bangladesh Awami League.

The prime minister said the country and nation has lost a valiant freedom fighter, while the Awami League lost a tested and dedicated soldier who followed the ideology of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

“His death is an irreparable loss to the politics of Bangladesh,” she said.

The premier said Sheikh Abdullah continued on to work till his death for the betterment of the country and the people by upholding the ideology of the Father of the Nation.

“His contributions to the struggle to establish the ideology of the great Liberation War, democracy and non-communal Bangladesh will be remembered forever, Sheikh Hasina said.

She prayed for the salvation of the departed soul and conveyed her deep sympathy for the bereaved family.

Besides, in a separate condolence messages, Jatiya Sangsad Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury, Deputy Speaker Advocate Md Fazle Rabbi Miah, Deputy Leader of the House Syeda Sajeda Chowdhury and Chief Whip Noor-E-Alam Chowdhury condoled the death of veteran politician Sheikh Abdullah.

Meanwhile, a number of cabinet members also expressed deep shock and sorrow at the death of the death of Sheikh Md Abdullah recalling his contribution to the War of Liberation and the politics of Gopalganj district Awami League.

Leaders of different political, social and cultural parties and other organizations, including Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JASAD) President Hasanul Haq Inu and General Secretary Shirin Akhter, Jatiya Party (JP) Chairman and Deputy Leader of the Opposition in Parliament GM Quader, Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) Mayor Barrister Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh, National University Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Harun-ur-Rashid ,Mohanagar Sarbajaneen Puja Committee President Shailondya Nath Majumder and General Secretary Advocate Kishore Ranjan Mandol also mourned the death of Md Abdullah.

They prayed for eternal peace of the departed soul and conveyed their deep sympathy to the bereaved family members.

Sheikh Abdullah breathed his last at the Combined Military Hospital in Dhaka last night. He was suffering from different old-age complications including diabetics.

Sheikh Abdullah left behind one son, nine daughters and a host of relatives and admirers to mourn his death.

He was born on September 8 in 1945 at Kekaniya village in Gopalganj district.

Sheikh Abdullah got involved in the politics being inspired with the ideology of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman while he was a student.

He played a unique role in the struggle of Bangladesh’s freedom by participating in the six-point movement of 1966, mass uprising of 1969 and Liberation War of 1971.